Available online.
Date: Piątek, 9:00 - 12:30
Title: Practical Approaches to Online Therapy: A Hands-On Guide to Digital Interventions and Virtual Reality in Mental Health
Abstract:
As the mental health sector evolves to include more digital interventions, there's a growing need for professionals to adapt their practices to online platforms. This three-hour interactive lecture, led by Professor Per Carlbring, is designed to provide mental health professionals with a practical, hands-on guide to conducting therapy in digital environments. Emphasizing the 'how-to' of online therapy, this session will equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively engage with clients through internet-based platforms and utilize innovative technologies such as virtual reality (VR) for therapeutic purposes such as phobias and social anxiety.
The workshop will open with an overview of the foundational principles of online therapy, including establishing a therapeutic alliance in a virtual setting, ensuring privacy and confidentiality, and navigating the technical aspects of delivering therapy online. Professor Carlbring will share insights into the most effective communication strategies for engaging clients remotely, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the digital medium.
A significant focus will be on the application of VR technology within mental health treatment. Participants will be given a live demonstration of a VR game designed for therapeutic use, offering a firsthand look at how virtual environments can be employed to simulate real-world scenarios for treatment purposes. This segment will explore the practicalities of integrating VR into therapy sessions, including selecting appropriate software, managing technical requirements, and tailoring interventions to individual client needs.
Throughout the lecture, interactive discussions and demonstrations will provide attendees with opportunities to practice online therapy techniques and explore VR applications. These activities are aimed at fostering a deeper understanding of digital interventions and encouraging the development of skills that can be immediately applied in clinical settings.
Targeted at mental health practitioners looking to expand their repertoire into the digital domain, this workshop promises to be an engaging and informative exploration of online therapy and VR's role in contemporary mental health treatment. Attendees will leave with a clear, practical understanding of how to conduct effective therapy sessions online and how to leverage the latest technologies to enhance treatment outcomes for their clients.
Date: Piątek, 9:00 - 12:30
Title: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: a masterclass (advanced practitioners)
Abstract:Obsessive-compulsive disorder results when people misinterpret otherwise normal intrusive cognitions as indicating not only that harm may occur, but that they may be responsible for it through what they do or fail to do. The preventative action is motivated by the way in which the person interprets intrusions. Such responses have two effects. Firstly, they can increase the occurrence of intrusive cognitions and secondly, maintain or even increase the person’s beliefs about threat and their responsibility for it.
Cognitive-behavioural treatment builds on this modification of behavioural theory and invariably includes the use of Exposure and Response Prevention, framed as behavioural experiments. The primary focus of intervention is to help the patient understand their problem as one of anxiety centred round their concerns about broadly defined responsibility rather than harm. The understanding is used to weaken the motivation and drive for compulsive responses as a prelude to helping the patient to choose to respond differently. Ultimately the purpose of such interventions is to allow the person affected by OCD to reclaim their life, a process which should be integral to treatment.
In this workshop Paul will consider what is needed in the treatment of more severe and chronic cases of OCD, including the issues of “collateral damage”, reassurance, accommodation and relational issues, mental contamination and so on. Participants are encouraged to bring case examples if they are prepared to role=play their patient as part of the workshop.
The importance of treatment flexibility and integrity will be emphasized and consideration will be given to contextual adaptations including issues of cultural issues and diversity.
The process of treatment will be illustrated through practical clinical case material, including where possible video of actual therapy.
Date: Piątek, 9:00 - 12:30
Title: Imagery Rescripting: a transdiagnostic technique to address traumatic and other adverse memories
Abstract:Imagery Rescripting (ImRs) is getting increasingly popular among CBT therapists. For some problems it can be provided as a standalone treatment, for example for PTSD and for nightmares. For other problems, it can be easily integrated in C(B)T, and it is actually a standard ingredient of some CT protocols as well as of Schema Therapy. Imagery Rescripting has many attractive aspects, such as flexibility to adapt it to specific issues a patient is struggling with, its experiential nature that promotes change processes, and its suitability to focus on early adverse experiences that led to the development of the problems – a domain that has usually been neglected in CBT. Moreover, research indicates that patients tend to further improve after ImRs treatment, which is an attractive feature both for patients and for therapists.
In this workshop the basics of the technique as applied to process memories of traumatic and other adverse experiences in childhood will be explained and demonstrated. Participants will also practice with the technique in roleplays, so that following the workshop they will be able to apply the technique in their clinical practice.
.jpg)
